Deceived

By Suzannah Daniels

DECEIVED is a new adult contemporary romance recommended for adult readers due to mature content.

A hotel room.

A blindfold.

An invitation that goes horribly awry.

Now that Seren Flanagan has graduated from college and returned to Creekview, Tennessee, she’s getting reacquainted with her old high school friends, including Cade Mayfield. She had a crush on him in high school but lacked the courage to act on it.

Luckily, she’s not the same shy girl who used to admire him from afar. Knowing what she wants, she sets a plan in motion to capture his attention by inviting him on a trip to Ireland.

But things don’t always go as planned—a lesson that Seren will soon learn the hard way.

DECEIVED is the third book in the WHISKEY NIGHTS series. Since each book focuses on a different couple, they can be read as stand-alones, but many readers may prefer to read them in order for maximum enjoyment.

WHISKEY NIGHTS SERIES ORDER
Wasted #1
Ignited #2
Deceived #3
Betrayed #4

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzannah Daniels
• Release date: Aug 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310361555

Suzannah Daniels

Suzannah Daniels has had an affinity for words for as long as she can remember. She grew up in North Georgia with four brothers, so she learned at an early age to admire snakes and motorcycles. When she wasn't pestering her brothers, she could usually be found reading or writing.She is the author of Viking's Embrace, a historical romance, and Ghostly Encounter, Book One of her Ghostly series (young adult paranormal romance).Currently, she lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband of twenty-six years and her teenage daughter. Her son lives nearby. The family pets include a Lab mix, a Basset Hound, a Shih Tzu, and a sweet, little kitty.

Book preview

Dry Shite

Seren

A soft sigh escaped my lips. Taking a sip of my Pear Martini, I gazed at the opposite side of the bar and watched Cade Mayfield converse with James Hawkins, who was better known as Hawk. They’d graduated from high school together, and since neither of them had left to go to college, they had remained close friends.

I, on the other hand, had only been back in Creekview, Tennessee, a few months, the proud owner of a college degree in accounting. I hadn’t been one of those students who could pay attention in class, rarely crack open my book, and still ace all my tests. I’d worked my ass off to keep my grades up, and my social life had suffered because of it. I had dated casually, but I hadn’t allowed myself the luxury of allowing any of my relationships to become too serious. Maybe because I feared failure.

College graduation had not only checked off one of my goals in life, but it had also boosted my confidence, made me feel as if I could decide what I wanted and go after it until I owned it.

But now that I’d survived the arduous journey of a college education, I was determined to have a little excitement before life hooked its talons in me. I needed a debit to my credit, someone to balance my ledger of life, someone I could share my experiences with before I found a job and spent the next forty years chained to a desk with no hope of parole. And if I was completely honest with myself, I hoped that this someone wanted to share everything with me, that this someone would be an important part of my life.

The seat next to him opened up. You should go.

Turning my head toward Lexi Swafford, my best friend and co-owner of Whiskey Nights, the bar in which I now sat, I pursed my lips as I considered her suggestion. I kind of like just watching him.

But if you go sit beside him, you can actually talk to him, she countered, pushing a wave of dark hair over her shoulder.

I talk to him all the time. I need to figure out a way to wow him, I said, my eyes remaining on him as I appreciated the bulge of muscles beneath his shirt.

Who are you wowing, love? a deep masculine voice asked.

I turned to see Mason Cambridge lean over the bar and give Lexi a quick kiss on the lips. He was the bartender, as well as the other co-owner of Whiskey Nights. I stared at Lexi, widening my eyes in an effort to say something without saying something.

Mason, you can’t interrupt girl talk, Lexi gently admonished him, shooing him away with a flick of her hand.

He shot her a lopsided grin, dimpling his cheek. Well, now I’m intrigued. He leaned against the bar, watching us intently with amber eyes. I’m pretty sure I could school the two of you on how to wow a guy.

Lexi narrowed her dark eyes at her boyfriend. Are you suggesting I don’t already know how to wow a guy?

Mason laughed and lifted his hands in surrender, the movement causing his tawny hair to brush against his shoulders. "I’m going now, but I am interested in testing your theories later."

Once he was out of earshot, I lamented, I wish I could test my theories on Cade.

You can’t test anything if you’re sitting on the opposite side of the bar. Lexi gave me a quick hug and stood. I’ve got to get back to work.

I stood, too, picked up my drink, and walked around the bar. As I slid in beside Cade, he turned toward me.

Hey, Flanagan. ‘Bout time you came over here to be social.

He had noticed me. That was a good sign.

So you can be the tie-breaker, Cade said while looking at his phone. Which scenario would you choose? Stranded with a strange guy on a deserted island or handcuffed to a strange guy while escaping the mafia?

Definitely escaping the mafia. There’s nothing exciting about a deserted island.

Hawk pointed at me. Now that depends on the island.

And who you’re with, Cade added.

I shook my head. Nope. I have to go with being handcuffed to a strange guy while being chased by the mafia.

Cade took a swig of beer and set it on the coaster. That’s what I picked.

I grinned. You wanted to be handcuffed to a strange guy, too?

He turned his head in my direction and frowned. I hope you know me better than that. His eyes roved over my body, and a shiver of excitement tingled down my spine.

He thumbed in Hawk’s direction. Lover boy over here picked the island.

What was the question? Mason asked as he approached with two bottles of beer and set one down in from of Hawk and the other in front of Cade.

You want another martini? he asked me.

I shook my head. I’m good.

The question, Cade said, reading from his phone, is whether you’d rather be stranded on a deserted island with a strange woman or be handcuffed to a strange woman while escaping the mafia.

Mason stretched his arms out and leaned against the bar, his hands cupping the edge of it to support his weight. Okay, I’m going to substitute the strange woman with Lexi, and then I’m going to have to pick the deserted island. My girl happens to like the beach.

Cade turned to look at me. I see a pattern here. All my friends have gone soft since they’ve attached themselves to women.

The deserted island is so predictable, I said. Where’s your sense of adventure, Mason?

Mason beamed. I’m thinking about my sense of adventure. That’s why I picked the deserted island. It’ll be a lot more fun, not to mention we’d have a better chance of…oh, I don’t know—surviving.

How do you know there’s any fresh water on the island? Cade asked.

Yeah, I agreed, holding my index finger in the air, "or food for that matter. Maybe you and Lexi will be stranded on an island with no foliage—nothing but sand and salt water and blistering heat. How long do you think you’d survive then?"

He’d last just as long as he would if the mafia was after him, Hawk intervened.

I guess we’ll never know, Mason said. The most dangerous thing I have to worry about is keeping all these customers happy. Duty calls. He pushed off the edge of the bar and made his way to the opposite side to take a drink order.

It’s sad, isn’t it? I asked.

What’s that? Cade studied me with eyes that reminded me of nature in autumn, a muted green the color of junipers with flecks of brown. Knowing his love for the outdoors, I thought the color suited him well.

Most of us spend our lives doing the same boring thing day after day. Well, I added, gazing down the bar at Hawk, except for our firefighter friend down there. I guess being a first responder isn’t too boring.

It has its boring moments, Hawk said, but in my line of work, a boring day usually means everyone else is having a good day—and that’s definitely not a bad thing.

Yeah, I can’t say working at the gym is overly exciting. I like it, but it’s definitely predictable. Cade scooted his empty beer bottle to the back of the counter and took a swig of the beer that Mason had left him. What I really want to do is buy some property and be a hunting guide. Maybe someday even open a lodge.

That would be perfect for you, I said, knowing how much Cade enjoyed hunting and fishing. Even now, he wore a camouflage cap backward, its bill angled toward his nape.

I’ve been working on my résumé, I said, thinking about life in general. It’s about time for me to join the real world. I want to do something exciting before I get a nine-to-five.

Make it happen, Flanagan.

I glanced at Cade as he took another sip of beer, his muscles flexing with the movement. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, and I thought about his words. He made it sound simple enough. Could it really be that easy?

I didn’t want to be a bore, a dry shite. I wanted to be spontaneous before being sucked into the routine world of the working.

And what could I do to add excitement to my life?

The one thing I really wanted was a relationship with him.

Noticing something whizzing toward me, I ducked. Cade leaned sideways, his hand shooting out behind my head while his other hand grabbed my arm. Tingling sensations cascaded down my spine at his touch, and the sudden movement caused his cologne to waft through the air. I breathed deeply, reveling in his scent.

Mason stood a few feet away grinning as Cade righted himself, a small stress relief ball in his hand.

Good to see you still have quick reflexes, Mason joked.

Too bad your aim sucks, Cade shot back. I almost took out Flanagan trying to catch your pathetic throw.

Mason laughed, and for the briefest moment, I wondered if he knew I was attracted to Cade and had done it intentionally. Part of me wanted to thank him, and the other part of me wanted to hurl Cade’s empty beer bottle at his head.

Are y’all staying after closing? Mason asked. Hawk and Amber will be here.

Cade glanced in Hawk’s direction. You’re staying out late on a work night? Did Mason slip something in your drink?

What’s wrong? Hawk asked. Afraid you can’t keep up with me?

Cade barked out a laugh. I’m afraid you’ll fall asleep at the bar, and we’ll have to carry your ass to the car.

Hawk stood and slapped Cade on the back. You can rest easy. I’m on vacation the rest of the week. Amber and I are going over some wedding details. We may even head to Gulf Shores. Amber wants to go over some things with her mom.

You’re really going to do it, huh?

Not only am I going to do it, I’m looking forward to it. He waved. Amber and I will be back in a bit.

***

Mason slapped his hands together after the last few patrons had left the bar. Closing time. Lock the doors.

Lexi flipped the lock, and then turned around, a huge grin on her face as she hurried in our direction. It’s been way too long since we’ve all gotten together. This is going to be so much fun!

How’s that? Cade asked. We playing strip poker?

Hell, no, Mason retorted. The last thing I want to see is you as naked as the day you were born. Besides, he continued, tucking Lexi into his side and kissing her lightly on the temple, this is all mine.

We set a date, Hawk announced from his perch on a barstool that faced the open room, his hand resting possessively on Amber’s knee.

When? Lexi asked, jumping up and down in her enthusiasm, her long dark tresses bouncing around her slender shoulders.

October twenty-fourth, Amber blurted. I know it’ll be here soon, but it seems so far away. She gazed at Hawk, and I could see the adoration in her eyes. We’re not sure where the wedding will be yet. We might have a destination wedding.

Cade and I had turned our barstools to face the room, too, and we were in a semicircle with Hawk and Amber as Mason and Lexi stood in the open gap. I stole a glance at Cade as the knowledge that I was the only female in the room without a significant other washed over me. His eyes were focused on Amber as she spoke, and I studied his profile, his straight nose and angular jawline, his broad shoulders. He still wore his cap backwards, and for some reason, I found it sexy. Everything about him oozed masculinity, and when he was near, everything feminine within me, from emotions to body parts, perked up in appreciation.

He turned to face me, his grin melting me as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I could feel his heat through my long-sleeved top. I wonder how long it will be before Mason and Lexi tie the knot, too, he said softly, so that only I could hear him.

I shrugged my shoulders. She doesn’t really talk about getting married. I think they have their hands full with the bar right now.

This is cause for a celebration, Lexi announced. Let’s dance.

She turned on the sound system, which they rarely used during normal business hours. As music pumped over the speakers, she grabbed Amber and started dancing. Mason took Amber’s seat as Lexi motioned for me to join them. Smiling and rolling my eyes, I dislodged myself from the stool and danced over to them. Hawk and Mason were chatting now, their heads bent toward each other, so they could hear.

As I swayed to the beat of the music, I turned my head and found Cade leaning back in the stool with his arms folded behind his head, his muscular biceps even more noticeable in this position than normal. His feet were positioned on the footrest, causing his knees to jut upward. I had expected him to converse with Hawk and Mason, but he didn’t appear to be interested in their conversation in the least. His attention was focused on me, and as his eyes locked with mine, heat burned my face as I looked away. When I worked up the nerve to look at him again, the moment was gone. He laughed at something Hawk said, and I wondered if I had imagined the intensity of his gaze.

When a soft voice started crooning a love song over the speakers, Lexi squealed, This is my favorite song. Mason! She motioned for him to come to her.

I’m coming, love. Mason pushed himself off the stool and took Lexi in his arms. She immediately laid her head against his shoulder, and he leaned down and brushed a kiss against her hair.

As I made my way to my barstool, I passed Hawk as he gathered Amber in his arms.

I plopped down on the stool, thinking how awkward being the odd couple out could be. Cade stood and held his hand out to me. It’s my duty as a man to make sure the prettiest woman here has a dance partner.

I cracked a smile. Your duty as a man?

He grinned and tipped his chin down at me. That’s right. What kind of friend would I be if I let you sit this one out?

I placed my hand in his, noticing the size difference as his hand seemed to engulf mine. He radiated heat, and I wondered how he could consistently stay so warm despite the fact that it was the middle of winter.

When his arms encircled me, I closed my eyes as he gently pressed his cheek against my temple, his five o’clock shadow rough against my skin. I’d known Cade since we were both in elementary school. During the last few months, we had talked often at Whiskey Nights, almost daily. I knew he loved virtually anything that had to do with the outdoors, and I knew he hated shrimp. I knew it had been hard on him when his hunting dog died a few months back, and I knew her name had been Winnie, short for Winchester. I knew he was highly competitive, and I knew he preferred talking on the phone to texting—not that I’d done either of those things with him.

But one thing I hadn’t known until now was how it felt to be in his arms.

And it was incredible.

I wanted to commit everything about this moment to memory, his heady scent, the security I felt, the way I wanted to snuggle into his chest and stay there forever.

His fingers splayed out against the base of my spine, sending a jolt of awareness through my body. In response, I pressed in closer.

But even though I was consumed by euphoria, I hadn’t missed the fact that he had referred to us as friends, and I wondered if he could ever think of me as anything more.

With any luck, I’d figure out a way to get Cade to notice me—not the friend who cut up with him frequently at the bar, but the woman who realized how rare it was to find a man who could make me laugh, who could make me enjoy conversations about the most mundane things, who could make tingling sensations cascade down my spine at a simple brush of his hand.

I was going to take Cade’s advice.

I was going to make it happen.

Chapter 2

Snog

Seren

Have you decided what you’re going to do, dear?

I looked up from my dinner plate and noticed my mother watching me. I’d been thinking about how I was going to get Cade’s attention, which included a whole lot of thoughts that I certainly wouldn’t be sharing with my mother, and her question freaked me out.

Hello? she asked, obviously noticing the blank stare on my face. Your graduation money? Are you going to use it to buy another car, or do you want to take that trip to Ireland you keep talking about?

Relief flowed through me. Oh. My parents were holding a nice little chunk of change for me, their present for my college graduation. One of their conditions was that they knew how the money was being spent. I assumed to make sure I didn’t make any stupid decisions or piddle it away on frivolous crap I didn’t need.

I’d totaled my car a few months ago, and my mother bought herself a new one, so that I could drive her old one. It was an ancient model that screamed family, but as much as I wanted something shinier and newer, I really wanted to travel to Europe.

Since I planned to start my job search soon, I figured I could buy a car once I had a steady income.

I want to go to Ireland, I announced. If I don’t go now, who knows when I’ll get another chance?

Good choice, my dad said, light reflecting off his bald spot as he nodded his head in approval without looking up from his dinner plate.

Since my paternal great-grandfather had emigrated from Ireland after World War II, my father had always been interested in his Irish heritage. I knew it was a trip he wanted to make himself but hadn’t allowed himself the luxury of taking that much time off work.

I wish we could go with you, my mother lamented. And speaking of that, I checked on a travel package, and it’s based on two people. Dad and I will pay for you and a friend, so who do you want to take with you?

My brow furrowed. I really didn’t know who I would take, and I doubted Lexi would be able to leave the bar that long, which was precisely the reason I wanted to take the trip before I started a new job.

And as I thought about the people who might be able to go with me, it dawned on me that this was the perfect time for me to wow Cade.

***

So tell me if I’m crazy.

Oh, you’re definitely crazy, Lexi said collapsing on my bed, exhausted from a long day at Whiskey Nights.

You haven’t even heard my plan yet.

Doesn’t matter. You’re still crazy.

I felt as if I would burst if I didn’t tell her. I figured out how I’m going to wow Cade.

Lexi ran her fingers through her long brunette tresses, pulling them away from her face. You’re going to wear that French maid outfit that he asked you about a few months ago and clean his apartment?

I forgot about that. I sat cross-legged on the bed beside her. I just might have to add the French maid costume to my plan, but there’s no way in hell I’m cleaning his apartment.

You say that now. Lexi shot me a look of disbelief. You might change your mind once you see his apartment.

I shook my head vigorously. Not going to happen. Once you start that, men expect you to do that stuff all the time.

I got lucky. Mason may not be as much of a clean freak as I am, but he’s pretty clean.

Forget cleaning, I demanded, growing impatient. Concentrate.

Okay, Lexi agreed, let’s hear it. How’re you going to wow him?

Excited, I slid my palms together rapidly, feeling the warmth created by the friction. I’m going to invite him to go to Ireland with me.

Lexi cocked her eyebrows. One hotel room or two?

Well, only one room comes with the travel package, so if he insists on having his own room, he’ll have to pay for it.

She furrowed her brow as she concentrated. Nope. Can’t see it.

What? You don’t think he’ll go with me?

Oh, he may very well go with you. I just can’t see him demanding his own hotel room.

A grin broke across my face. I hope not.

What if he can’t go?

I knew it was a possibility. Cade and I had talked often at Whiskey Nights, and I’d even joined Flex Appeal, the gym that he and his brothers owned, just to get more time around him. But I didn’t even have his phone number, so even though he might not be interested in taking a trip with me, I really didn’t want to think about his refusal. I’d already imagined touring the Irish countryside with Cade. And while I would let nothing ruin my trip, I desperately wanted to travel with him. He has to go, Lexi. I already have my heart set on it.

Are you sure that’s what you want?

Her question surprised me. As my best friend, Lexi was well aware of my attraction to Cade. You know how I feel about him.

She nodded, her expressive eyes revealing her concern.

What? I asked, wondering if she knew something I didn’t.

Nothing. Her dark eyes focused on me. Are you sure you don’t want to try something a little less drastic? Like asking him to lunch?

We’ve sat at the bar a million times and eaten together.

Yeah, but I meant asking him to go somewhere else. You know, more like a date.

My eyes dropped to my hands as I entertained her suggestion. "I’ve known him since elementary school when he used to sit behind me on the bus and pull my hair. You know when you see something so often that you don’t pay much attention to it anymore? Take a new car, for example. When you first get it, everything’s exciting. You love the smell of the interior, the way the steering wheel fits in your hand. You wash it all the time and keep it shined up. But after a while, all the new wears off, and everything about it becomes so familiar that you don’t even notice it.

I want to take Cade out of our familiar surroundings. I want to do something sensational, something that doesn’t happen every day. Plenty of girls have probably invited him to lunch or to sit and watch a sunset. How many girls have invited him to an eclipse?

An eclipse? Is there going to be an eclipse while you’re in Ireland?

No, I clarified, I’m just using that for an example. I want to do something that will burn into his brain, something that will make me stand out from any other girl who might try to get his attention. I want to stand at the Cliffs of Moher with him as we breathe the ocean air and our feet get tingly because we realize how high the cliffs are, how far down it is where the waves crash onto the shoreline.

I think you can discover whether he’s interested in you without going all the way to Ireland.

I know, but going to Ireland will be a much more exciting way of finding out just how interested he really is.

I just don’t want you to be disappointed. Lexi gave me a small smile. Especially not if you’re halfway around the world, and I can’t get to you.

I’ll be fine. If he just wants to be friends, then we’ll have fun touring Ireland together, and it will still be a memorable experience. If he happens to be as interested in me as I am in him, then who knows? We may be telling our grandkids how Nana and Poppy fell in love on The Emerald Isle.

It’s settled then. Whether Cade knows it or not, he’s going to Europe. When are you going to ask him?

"I was thinking I might catch his interest more if I added a little mystery to it, you know? Make the invitation so intriguing that he can’t say no."

How are you going to do that?

"I thought I’d hand him a written invitation of some sort. Make it a secret rendezvous and forbid him to mention it to anyone. That should add a